h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

oh there is the odd good song that comes out now and again . but now where near as good as it was in the 60 70 early 80s , the point i was making about the top 40 , is that it was far better in the 70s than now.

One of the top "music" shows of the 60s had cilla Black singing on it every week....pinky and perky...Max Bygraves...ah the good old days.
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oh yeah and what do we have now , lets see oh yes the crazy frog and chicken ,now theres a good number one for you, says a lot for todays music and peoples tastes huh .

I think that's just the filter of age applying - only the better stuff gets remembered - there's always been a huge amount of dross in the charts.

yes and that is why the 60s 70s get well rememberd

I'm afraid I've not read much of the backlog, but my answer is yes, it is dying. Not because there's a lack of talent - certainly not! But because of greedy lawyers and recording industries stamping out creativity. It's something I'm very concerned about, and not just in the music department.

Music is highly subjective. Myself I'd say it went into a bit of a decline from the beginning of the twentieth century! I'm a classical music person, and perishingly little else, but that's purely an opinion. Thankfully, copyright has expired on classical music, so it should stay with us, but I've not got high hopes - being a pessimist - about today's talent and creators...

.....just when I say I am a little disapointed at the music scene it comes up and bits me on the bum!
....over the last few days I found a couple of new bands that I quite like. Yesterday, I watched T in the park and saw a band called 'Future Heads'. They seem to have a nice vocal style with a lot of variety and a few harmonies, alongside some good overlays of stonking guitar work...I was a little reminded of the power of early Jam, high praise indeed.
....another band I have seen twice in the last week or so on TV, is 'The Magic Numbers' Theses are a quirky, laid back band...a little harking back to 60/70s sound in the sense of the harmonies, and slightly hippy feel . They make you smile listening to them, their musical style is had to quantify, but they are a prime example of not having to have trendy, boyband looks to produce good music.....indeed they appear to be 2 sets of brother and sisters, perhaps one pair could be husband and wife.
....would be interested in anyones opinions of these 2 bands.

I saw The Futureheads & The Magic Numbers on the T in The Park coverage yesterday. Both very good (I bought the Magic Num bers album last week, on the recommendation of several people, It's great).

Music is not dying a slow death, it's just that our taste changes (as has been previously mentioned).

Everyone seems to be recommending the Magic Numbers at the mo'... any obvious reference points to give me a clue as to what I'm going to be in for?

Nice vocal bits (some harmonies, some contrapuntal) a bit like CSN (&Y), & pretty mellow. Beyond that I can't really help with reference points. I've not heard much like 'em before.

....yes, THE magic Numbers are very difficult to describe, vague touches like 'The Flaming Lips' do (another differant but good band).....but that might make you even more confused, lol.

...they are very differnt to what I call the Britsh sound that dominates today...which maybe why I like them.

I bought The Magic Numbers album a couple of weeks ago, great band

They've got a West Coast harmony kind of sound, remind me of the Mamas & Papas.

Blimey, it seems we've got a bit of a The Magic Numbers (I checked the CD case - the 'The' is there) appreciation thang going on. A good thing.

.....sorry, the capital 'The' was a typing mistake, not me point out the 'the'.... if that makes sense.

.....it does show that music is alive and well, if a somewhat unusual band like the Magic Numbers can be so popular....but perhaps that is what the music scene needs right now.

......saw a recording of 'System Of A Down' recently..... a strange mix of a few moments of thrash metal, good ,thinking, almost at times operatic vocals....worth checking out if happen to be on TV, again a band slightly differnt from the rest.

They only System song I know is Chop Suey (I think), and it's bleedin' marvellous. I got bored with metal a few years ago, but that song stood out. From what I gather they make serious points whilst not taking the music too seriously. The Frank Zappa school. Excellent.

I really like the new Foo Fighters song, I've never gotten into them before, but might have to get an album of theirs.

.........strange, but 3 times I saw a band playing their new single but never saw name of band, nor recognised them....but liked single, it turned out to be Foo Fighters (they played it at T in park) .......I think it's good to hear a song without knowing who it's by, as it removes any preudice you may have for/against a band.

.........Ian Brown

.........Just don't get it, he can't sing, looks like a Jimmy Savil copiest with brown hair, but people talk like he is some sort of God.

......is this another case of the kings clothes?

Yep. He was in the right place at the right time (and the Roses were superb, briefly).

Well I love a lot of the Stone Roses' stuff, but I did see Ian Brown live a few years ago playing support to a Manic Street Preachers concert and he was pretty crap there.

I have to say that I think most of the bands mentioned on this thread are pretty dull. All those generic indy rock/britpop bands. And I *like* rock. Muse & Radiohead both fit into the genre but are interesting, tuneful and very skillful. Although I'm told the Kaiser Chiefs & Interpol are fantastic live.

When I'm in living in my hometown I go to a monthly music quiz mostly frequented by old fogies, which covers chart music from the 1950s onwards. And while I wasn't around back then, most of it quite clearly *was* dreck. But its a shame how many people have missed out on Pink Floyd because their dad listened to it.

To finish, a recommendation for an Icelandic rock band called Sigur Ros. Very loosely rock that is, they have a lot of strings going on. They're very pretentious, sing in their own made up language and have an entire album of untitled tracks, but make a lovely sound.

.....although didn't like most of Top Of Pops music, I still think it's sad it's been moved to BBC2...even CD UK seems to have been moved to Sunday morning....think TOTP will slowly start to die now, which wil be sad.